Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has admitted the club may be forced to sell captain Marc Guehi this summer, with the England international entering the final year of his contract and showing no intention of signing an extension.
Speaking after Palace’s Community Shield victory over Liverpool, Parish made it clear that allowing a player of Guehi’s calibre to leave on a free transfer is not an option.
“For players of that calibre to leave on a free, it’s a problem for us,” Parish said. “It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind.”
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish admits Marc Guehi will have to extend his contract or be sold this summer ⏳✍️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 11, 2025
Reports are suggesting that Guehi may be available for as little as £40m with his current deal at Palace expiring in 2026. 😧 pic.twitter.com/GoPyShkNOm
Chelsea and Liverpool Lead the Chase
While Newcastle saw multiple bids rejected in January — the highest around £65 million — it’s Chelsea and Liverpool who now appear to be in pole position for his signature.
Liverpool have tracked Guehi for over a year and could reignite their interest before the window closes, especially given their defensive injuries in pre-season.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have been rocked by the news that Levi Colwill is set for a spell on the sidelines through injury. That blow has fuelled speculation over a sensational return for Guehi, who came through the Blues’ academy before joining Palace in 2021.
A Valuable Asset in Demand
Guehi has developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable defenders, combining calmness in possession with strong leadership — qualities underlined when he captained Palace to their Community Shield triumph on Sunday, their second trophy under Oliver Glasner.
But with no progress on a contract extension, Palace could be forced to sell within the next 20 days to avoid losing him for nothing next summer.
🚨 Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish on Marc Guehi: “Of course, for players of that calibre to leave on a free, it is a problem”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2025
“It needs a new contract or a conclusion of some kind”.
Guehi won’t sign a new deal and exit in final 20 days is likely. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ztV8eU08nP
Squad Reinforcements Still a Challenge
Palace have added Argentina goalkeeper Walter Benitez from PSV Eindhoven and Croatian full-back Borna Sosa from Ajax, but further additions have been difficult to secure ahead of their European campaign — pending an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over their demotion under multi-club ownership rules.
“We have an outstanding 15 or 16 players, but getting that level of quality in is hard,” Parish admitted. “At the end of the day, we’re Crystal Palace. The money at every football club is finite. We’ll do what we can to make us better.”
The Clock is Ticking
With Chelsea’s defensive injury crisis and Liverpool’s long-standing admiration, Guehi’s future could be decided quickly. Whether he chooses a return to his boyhood club or a fresh challenge at Anfield, it’s looking increasingly unlikely he’ll still be at Selhurst Park when the window shuts.
